Highway cleaner

ABSTRACT

Litter and refuse along the side of a highway is picked up by dragging a series of chains along the ground. Dragging lead chains cause the litter, such as cans, to start rolling. Each lead chain terminates with a plate to which are attached two intermediate chains. Most of the refuse rides and rolls along the top of the intermediate chains, each of which terminate with another plate. Three follow chains are attached to each of these plates and the refuse rides along the top of the follow chains to be swept into a basket.

United States Patent Mattison [4 June 13, 1972 [54] HIGHWAY CLEANER 578,635 3/1897 Hershey ..171 7s x [72] Inventor: Norbert Mam, 5102 west 14th Street 3,087,293 4/1963 Cassidy ..171/66 Lubbock 79407 Primary Examiner-Philip Arnold 22 il d; 11, 1970 Attorney-Char1es W. Coffee [21] Appl. No.: 62,944 [57] ABSTRACT Litter and refuse along the side of a highway is picked up by [52] US. Cl ..2l4/353, 171/66 dragging a series of chains along the ground. Dragging lead [51] Int. Cl ..B60p 1/00 chains cause the litter, such as cans, to start rolling. Each lead [58] Field of Search ..214/355, 353; 171/78, 66 chain terminates i h a plate to ch r attached two in ermediate chains. Most of the refuse rides and rolls along the top 5 References Cited of the intermediate chains, each of which terminate with another plate. Three follow chains are attached to each of UNITED STATES PATENTS these plates and the refuse rides along the top of the follow chains to be swept into a basket. 71,581 12/1867 Chappell ..l7l/66 181,768 9/1876 Brown ..171/78 29 Claims,6DrawingFigures Q I, E g

PATfNTEnJuulslsrz 3.669.289

sum 10? 4 v FIG- Nomi-m- A. MATTI 50H HIGHWAY CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to machines for picking up litter and refuse from along the edge of highways.

A large amount of refuse and litter is strewn along the sides of the Nation's highways. The greater portion of this litter and refuse is in the form of discarded beverage cans, either aluminum or steel, but the trash also includes great numbers of glass bottles, plastic containers and, also, debris from disintergrating tires or from the cargo of trucks. In addition, there will be rocks, pieces of lumber, dead animals, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, mice, and birds, as well as the full range of discarded personal property, such as shoes and hats.

2. Description of the Prior Art In actual practice today, most of the litter and refuse along the side of the highway is picked up by hand. Magnetic units have been devised to pick up iron objects along the highway. Also, certain units have been designed using curved fingers, which are themselves rigid, to run along the ground to pick up debris.

Certain agricultural implements, such as KINTZ 76,200, AASE 1,070,384, and FELAND 3,104,722, which are used for digging potatoes or rocks from the ground, have chains or flexible members which separate the objects from the dirt, but the objects are not picked up by the flexible members, but are picked up by blades.

F INOCCHIARO 2,964,896 and WILSON 2,964,204 disclose structure similar to what I use for moving the debris from its pickup point to a bin. However, they use different methods for picking it up.

WELL 2,484,437, RUSSELL 2,448,328, and BUSSIERE 3,151,682, disclose other approaches for similar type problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1. New and Different Function I have solved the problem of picking up the litter from the ground primarily by dragging chains over the litter. First a plurality of lead chains spaced about eight inches on center are attached to a front unit. These lead chains tend to start the litter rolling or moving as they are drug longitudinally over the litter. Each of the lead chains terminate with a connection to the bight of U-shaped plates. Each of the legs of the U is connected to the front of an intermediate chain, which are about 4 inches on center. The intermediate chains begin to pick up most of the trash so that it rides and bounces along the top of the chains. Each of the intermediate chains terminate with a triangular shaped plate, the intermediate chain is attached to a forward point. Three follow chains are attached to each plate. The follow chains are about 1% inch on centers. I prefer to use the same size chain throughout, having about a three-eighths inch chain bar and being about 1 inch in length, outside dimensions, and about 1% inch width. Therefore, it may be seen that the follow chains are practically touching one another across the back.

The front of the lead chains and the back of the follow chains are attached to members which traverse the ground 3 or 4 inches above the ground and the major part of all of the chains and plates drag along the ground. I have found that with this dragging action of the links of the chains cause the trash to roll along and get above the chains. Once the debris is above the chains, it is swept from the follow chains with a reel, having rubber flaps, into a receptacle.

I pick up litter and refuse by dragging chains over the litter strewn ground.

2. Objects of this Invention An object of this invention is to pick up trash, litter and refuse from the ground.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view of one of the U-shaped plates taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational detail view of one of the triangular plates taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom detail view of the plate shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT My refuse gatherer is in the form of a wheeled vehicle having hitch 10 on tongue 11, which forms a means for attaching the gatherer to a towing vehicle such as a truck or tractor. The wheeled vehicle itself forms a transport means for moving front unit 12, thus traversing litter strewn ground.

The hitch 10 is connected to the front of the tongue 11, which is connected to the front of body 14 of the wheeled vehicle which is generally a box-shaped structure. Rack 16 is on the top of the body portion, whereby litter, such as auto tires, which is too large to be picked up by the gatherer, may be manually picked up and placed therein.

Wheels 18 are mounted upon either side of the body 14 so that the vehicle is in the form of a two-wheeled cart. Each of the wheels is joumaled to the rear end of rocker bar 20. These rocker bars 20 extend from their attachment at their front end to the front unit 12. Between the front and rear, the bars 20 are pivoted by pins 22 to the body 14. Jack 24 in the form of a threaded bolt threaded inside a sleeve interconnects the front unit 12 to the front of the body 14.

Thus, when the front unit 12 is raised by the jack 24, the wheels 18 are lowered by the action of the rocker bars 20 pivoted to body 14. Because the wheels 18 are ground engaging wheels, the resulting action of this is to raise the body 14. Therefore, by raising the front unit 12 by the jack 24, not only the front unit is raised, but, also, the body 14 itself is elevated.

The jack 24 serves a dual purpose: (1) when the gatherer is being transported from one location to another and not picking up litter and refuse, the front unit 12 and the body 14 are elevated to their maximum height to be in a transport position; and (2) when the unti is working, the jack 24 acts as an adjustment to adjust the exact position the front unit 12 and the body 14 are above the ground.

Back 26 of the body 14 is made of sheet metal and is hemicylindrical in shape about a horizontal axis, which is traverse to the direction of travel of the body. The axis of back 26 is parallel to the axis of the wheels 18. The direction of travel is shown by arrow A in all of the FIGS. Shaft 28 of reel 30 is joumaled to the body 14 coaxially with the hemicylindrical back 26. The reel 30 has four arms, each arm terminating with a rubber flap 31. The reel 30 diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the hemicylindrical back 26 so that the rubber flaps 31 wipe the hemicylindrical back 26.

The series of chains 34 extend from the front unit 12 to lower lip 32 of the hemicylindrical back 26.

The front unit 12 is built to resemble a comb or rake. There is an upper, horizontal beam 36 which is parallel to the axis of the hemicylindrical back 26. The jack 24 is attached between this beam 36 and the body 14. Depending from the beam is a plurality of laterally spaced teeth 38 and 40. The rocker bars 20 are attached near the bottom of the two outside teeth 40. A turnbuckle 42 is attached to the bottom of each of the teeth 38 and 40. A lead chain 46 is connected to each turnbuckle 42 attached to each tooth 38, thus the lead chains are laterally spaced.

Each lead chain 46 terminates with a horizontally oriented U-shaped plate 48. The plates 48 are laterally spaced. The plate is 4 inches wide and the lead chain is connected to the top of bight 50 of the U-shaped plate 48. A sinker 44 in the form of an elongated metal bar is attached about midway the length of each lead chain 46. The purpose of the sinker 44 is to cause the lead chain 46 to have good contact with the ground.

An intermediate chain 52 is attached to each leg of the U- shaped plate 48; thus, the intermediate chains are laterally spaced. The intermediate chains are also connected to the top of the U-shaped plate 48, as seen in the drawing. By attaching the chain to the top of U-shaped plate 48, the wear upon the chains is reduced. The bottom of the U-shaped plates have wear-resistant hard surfacing material 54 welded on them. The intermediate chains 52 terminate with horizontally oriented triangular plates 56, which are laterally spaced. Each of the intermediate chains 52 is attached at the top at one of the points of the triangle 56. The triangular plate 56 is an equalateral triangle. It also has hard surfacing material 54 applied to its bottom.

Three follow chains 58 are attached to the top of each of the plates 56; thus, the follow chains are laterally spaced. The plates are about 3 inches wide and the follow chains are attached about 1% inches on center. The follow chains terminate by attachment as by welding to the lower lip 32 of the back 26 ofthe body 14. 1

The turnbuckles are adjusted so that the chains in their suspension from the front unit 12 to the lower lip 32 have about 6 inches sag to them when they are unsupported. This results, when in normal operation, in the chains dragging on the ground from about the sinkers 44 to about the lower lip 32. It is necessary that the chain series 34 drag along the ground for proper operation. However, it is also necessary that the chains of the series not have excessive kinks or slack in them at the joint between the follow chain 58 and the lower lip 32 so the trash in this area makes a smooth transition from the follow chains to the lower lip 32 and the back 26.

A link of each of the follow chains 58 attached to the outside of the triangular plates 56 may be welded to a link of the follow chain attached to an adjacent triangular plate 56. These cross-welded links are about midpoint of the follow chain 58. If this welded connection is not made, I experience difficulty with the plates 56 and 48 turning over and twisting the follow chains 58, resulting in an inefficient picking up of trash. Furthermore, most of the trash which has not been lifted to the top of the chains 52 will be between the triangular plates 56 and this welded joint at that point tends to improve the efficiency of lifting up the trash and getting it on top of the follow chains 58 so it may be swept by the rubber flaps 31 of the reel 30 along the back 26. Two outside chains 78 extend the entire length of the chain series 34 from the outside teeth 40 to the outside of the lower lip 32. I have found it desirable to run these two outside chains the entire length to minimize the amount of litter which is thrown to one side when the unit is operating.

A link of these outside chains 78 may be welded to a link of the follow chain 58 about midway of the follow chain.

I have found it desirable to limit the width of the chain series 34 to about foot or 6 foot. Often the highway right-of-ways are not a plain surface, but have a crown or other irregular surface; therefore, it is better to limit the width and to either run the gatherers as gangs or to make a series of passes to pick up the litter rather than attempting to make a wider unit which would not follow the irregularities of the terrain.

Immediately in front of the reel 30 is positioned bin 60. This bin is defined by the front 62 of the body 14 and by the bin floor 64 which is located above lead chains 46. Baffle 66 forms the rear of the bin 60. This vertical baffle 66 extends about half-way between the bin floor 64 and the top 68 of the body 14, which is immediately forward of the reel 30.

Sheave 70 upon the reel 30 provides a means for rotating the reel. Belt 72 is trained around the sheave 70 and also around drive sheave 74 located and attached to one of the wheels 18. The sheaves 70 and 74 are sized so that normal operating speeds of the gather, the rotation of the reel is suflicient so that the trash is maintained by centrifugal force against hemicylindrical back 26 and is thrown forward along the top 68 of the body 14 into the bin 60 over the top of bafile 66.

Each side of the bin 60 has doors 76 so that the bin 60 may be emptied. It has been found desirable to attach a bag within the bin 60 so that the trash is collected in the bag within the bin 60; therefore, when the bin 60 is emptied, the trash is bagged. Otherwise, when the bin 60 is emptied, the trash is dumped on the ground and must be again picked up.

I have had good success using chains for the drag members 46, 52, and 58. It will be understood that the chains form flexible, pliable members and that other forms of flexible, pliable members would be suitable, however, I prefer to use chains. Also, I prefer to use the three sets, the lead members or chains 46, the intermediate members or chains 52 and the follow members or chains 58. It will be understood that units which would be operable could be constructed using only the lead chains or members and follow chains or members, however, I prefer to use the lead, intermediate, and follow chains.

Thus I have provided a refuse gatherer particularly adapted to clean litter-strewn ground along the edges of the Nation's highways. In describing my invention, I have not described many of the details of construction such as access doors, idler pulleys, bearings, and the like, because details of construction of this nature are within the skill of ordinary mechanics and a detailed description should be unnecessary to instruct ordinary mechanics in the techniques of the fabrication of such a unit. For instance the reel pulley 70 is connected to the reel shaft 28 by a clutch or disconnect mechanism so that the gatherer may be towed at high speed without the reel windmilling.

Also, heavy woven wire screens 80 are provided along areas of the front so the excess air and dust created by the sweeping of the litter by the reel 30 is expelled. In general, the reel 30 operates as a radial-flow fan. Hood 82 attached to the center of the front 62 directs the dust downward directly in line with the towing vehicle. The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A refuse gatherer comprising a front unit,

transport means for traversing the unit a slight distance above refuse-strewn ground,

a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable lead members connected to the front unit,

d. a plurality of laterally spaced horizontally oriented plates connected to the lead members,

e. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable follow members connected to the plates,

f. there being at least twice as many follow members as lead members, and

g. sweeps means connected to the transport means for sweeping refuse from the follow members.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. a bin on the transport means and j. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin.

3. The invention as defined in claim I with the additional limitation of h. said plate members having a point oriented forward.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and j. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse. 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and j. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse. 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including:

h. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means, j. a reel joumaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back, k. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse, and m. rotary means on the transport means for rotating the reel. 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitation of n. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back. 8. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitations of n. a bin, 0. the bin located forward from the hemicylindrical back and above the members and plates, the parts so arranged and constructed that refuse on the follow members is swept up by the reel, around the hemicylindrical back and thrown forward into the bin. 9. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of h. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including 7 j. lift means for lifting the forward unit, plates and members from the ground while moving the gatherer and not picking up refuse. 10. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of h. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable intermediate members connected between the lead members and the follow members. 11. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of h. said flexible, pliable members being chains. 12. The invention as defined in claim 1 1 with the additional limitations of j. a bin on the transport means and k. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin. 13. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of j. said plate members having a point oriented forward. 14. The invention as defined in claim 1 l with the additional limitations of j. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and k. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse. 15. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and k. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse. 16. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including k. lift means for lifting the forward bar, plates, and members from the ground while moving the gatherer and not icking up refuse. 1 The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including:

j. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means,

k. a reel joumaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back,

m. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse, and

n. rotary means for rotating the reel.

18. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitation of 0. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back.

19. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitations of o. a bin,

p. the bin located forward from the hemicylindrical back and above the members and plates, the parts so arranged and constructed that refuse on the follow members is swept up by the reel, around the hemicylindrical back and thrown forward into the bin.

20. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of j. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable intermediate members connected between the lead members and the follow members.

21. The invention as defined in claim 20 with the additional limitations of k. a bin on the transport means and m'. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin.

22. The invention as defined in claim 21 with the additional limitation of n. a portion of said plate members having a point oriented forward.

23. The invention as defined in claim 22 with the additional limitations of 0. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and p. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse.

24. The invention as defined in claim 23 with the additional limitation of q. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse.

25. The invention as defined in claim 24 with the additional limitations of r. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including 5. lift means for lifting the forward bar, plates and members from the ground whild moving the gatherer and not picking up refuse.

26. The invention as defined in claim 25 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including:

t. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means,

u. a reel joumaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back,

v. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse and w. rotary means for rotating the reel.

27. The invention as defined in claim 26 with the additional limitation of x. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back.

28. The invention as defined in claim 27 with the additional limitation of y. a sinker attached about midway of each of the lead members.

29. The invention as defined in claim 28 with the additional limitation of 2. some of the follow members attached to an adjacent follow member about mid-length. 

1. A refuse gatherer comprising a front unit, transport means for traversing the unit a slight distance above refuse-strewn ground, a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable lead members connected to the front unit, d. a plurality of laterally spaced horizontally oriented plates connected to the lead members, e. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable follow members connected to the plates, f. there being at least twice as many follow members as lead members, and g. sweeps means connected to the transport means for sweeping refuse from the follow members.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. a bin on the transport means and j. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of h. said plate members having a point oriented forward.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and j. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of h. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and j. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including: h. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means, j. a reel journaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back, k. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse, and m. rotary means on the transport means for rotating the reel.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitation of n. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitations of n. a bin, o. the bin located forward from the hemicylindrical back and above the members and plates, the parts so arranged and constructed that refuse on the follow members is swept up by the reel, around the hemicylindrical back and thrown forward into the bin.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of h. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including j. lift means for lifting the forward unit, plates and members from the ground while moving the gatherer and not picking up refuse.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of h. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable intermediate members connected between the lead members and the follow members.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of h. said flexible, pliable members being chains.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. a bin on the transport means and k. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin.
 13. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of j. said plate members having a point oriented forward.
 14. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and k. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse.
 15. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and k. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse.
 16. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of j. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including k. lift means for lifting the forward bar, plates, and members from the ground while moving the gatherer and not picking up refuse.
 17. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including: j. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means, k. a reel journaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back, m. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse, and n. rotary means for rotating the reel.
 18. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitation of o. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back.
 19. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitations of o. a bin, p. the bin located forward from the hemicylindrical back and above the members and plates, the parts so arranged and constructed that refuse on the follow members is swept up by the reel, around the hemicylindrical back and thrown forward into the bin.
 20. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of j. a plurality of laterally spaced flexible, pliable intermediate members connected between the lead members and the follow members.
 21. The invention as defined in claim 20 with the additional limitations of k. a bin on the transport means and m. said sweep means also performing the function of moving the refuse into the bin.
 22. The invention as defined in claim 21 with the additional limitation of n. a portion of said plate members having a point oriented forward.
 23. The invention as defined in claim 22 with the additional limitations of o. said refuse being items of substantially uniform dimensions and p. said plates being less than about twice the dimension of the refuse.
 24. The invention as defined in claim 23 with the additional limitation of q. said plates being spaced laterally from the adjacent plate by less than about the dimension of the refuse.
 25. The invention as defined in claim 24 with the additional limitations of r. said transport means being in the form of a wheeled vehicle including s. lift means for lifting the forward bar, plates and members from the ground whild moving the gatherer and not picking up refuse.
 26. The invention as defined in claim 25 with the additional limitations of said means for sweeping including: t. a hemicylindrical back to said transport means, u. a reel journaled to said transport means coaxially with the hemicylindrical back, v. rubber flaps on the reel to brush the refuse and w. rotary means for rotating the reel.
 27. The invention as defined in claim 26 with the additional limitation of x. said follow member attached to the bottom of said hemicylindrical back.
 28. The invention as defined in claim 27 with the additional limitation of y. a sinker attached about midway of each of the lead members.
 29. The invention as defined in claim 28 with the additional limitation of z. some of the follow members attached to an adjacent follow member about mid-length. 